Central Queensland Capras were beaten 24-10 by the Mackay Cutters at BB Print Stadium, with a tight first half giving way to a stronger second-half finish from the home side.
The Capras stayed firmly in the contest through the opening 40 minutes and went to the break trailing by just two points at 8-6, but the Cutters created separation early in the second half and never gave that ground back.
Mackay struck first through Jimmy Ngutlik in the 18th minute, although the missed conversion kept the margin to four. The Capras responded at the 26-minute mark when Lewis Symonds crossed, and Trey Brown added the extras to edge Central Queensland in front 6-4.
That lead was short-lived. Ngutlik grabbed his second in the 31st minute to restore the Cutters’ advantage, and while another missed conversion kept the score close, Mackay took an 8-6 lead into half-time.
The game turned quickly after the restart. Jordan Martin crossed in the 42nd minute and Ryan Rivett converted to push the margin to 14-6, before Luke Pietzner added another five minutes later to extend the lead to 18-6.
The Capras’ task became tougher again when John Fineanganofo was sin binned in the 46th minute. Even so, they found a response through Blake Anders, who scored in the 55th minute to cut the deficit to 18-10. Brown was unable to convert, leaving the margin at eight points and the Capras still within reach.
That was the key moment in the contest. With the Capras still in range, the next score carried weight, but it did not come until late when Aitasi James crossed in the 7tth minute. Rivett converted to seal the result at 24-10.
The broader numbers reflected the pressure the Capras were under across the night. Mackay led possession 52 per cent to 48, completed at 78 per cent to the Capras’ 72, and finished ahead in run metres, post-contact metres, line breaks and tackle breaks. Central Queensland made more tackles overall, 287 to 285, but also missed 43.
Among the Capras’ individual contributors, Rodrick Tai led the side with 156 run metres, Tane Kiriona made 38 tackles, and Anders produced two line breaks as well as a second-half try. Symonds also crossed in the first half in a performance that briefly put the Capras in front.
For the Capras, the contest was there to be won at half-time, but Mackay’s early second-half surge and the missed conversion after Anders’ try left too much to recover.
